Using brain stimulation to help people quit smoking
Official title: RTMS manipulates imbalanced drive-reward and executive control circuitry for smoking cessation
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11062427 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special treatment called rTMS can help people stop smoking by focusing on the brain areas that control cravings and self-control, and it’s for anyone who wants to quit smoking and is curious about new ways to do it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $691,592 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3DA048507-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062427 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with tobacco use disorders who are motivated to quit smoking.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not actively seeking to quit smoking or who have contraindications for rTMS may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can help individuals quit smoking by targeting specific brain circuits involved in reward and self-control. Participants will undergo brain imaging to identify their unique neural patterns related to smoking cravings. They will then be randomly assigned to receive either a sham treatment or active rTMS aimed at balancing the brain's drive-reward and executive control circuits. The goal is to refine this non-drug therapy to improve smoking cessation rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective non-pharmacological treatment option for individuals struggling to quit smoking.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that rTMS can reduce cravings and improve quit rates in smokers, indicating a promising avenue for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Xingbao — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Li, Xingbao
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.